Painting Your Home During the Dog Days of Summer

It’s pretty obvious that the dog days of summer are here in Florida as the days grow longer and our thermometers inch ever closer to the triple digits. While we have no doubt that you’re probably spending a good deal of your time in the comfort of your air conditioning, situations may arise in which you need to do a little maintenance work on the exterior of your home. When it comes to painting in Orlando, however, the summertime may make exterior painting a little tricky.

Still, “tricky” doesn’t mean “impossible–” it just means you’ll need a little extra preparation. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re painting your home’s exterior this summer:

• The early bird gets the paint. For the sake of your paint as well as for your own health, try getting your painting done early in the morning or late in the evening. Although the light is obviously not as bright during these times, it also means that the surface of your home will be cooler, making paint less likely to drip and melt off. Also, you’ll be helping yourself avoid a nasty sunburn.

• It’s prime time for preparation. Especially during the summer months, prepping and priming the area will probably take just as long as the painting job itself. Make sure all cracks and dents are sealed up and that you treat your exterior walls with a high-quality primer to help keep everything in place.

• Don’t be gone with the wind. Here in Central Florida, we’re no strangers to the occurrence of afternoon showers with high winds. To the best of your ability, try to avoid painting on days that have high winds. Not only will the wind potentially cause streaking and dripping, it will also blow around debris that can get stuck in your paint–not a cute look.

• Time is on your side. During the humid summer months, it’s important that you double the time you leave your walls to dry before you go in on a second or third coat of paint. All that extra moisture in the air has the tendency to collect, and your first coat will peel right off if it’s still too wet.

The best way to avoid a headache when you’re painting your home’s exterior this summer is to enlist the assistance of the professionals. The team at New Ceilings has been painting in Orlando for years and knows all the best tips and tricks to give you a smooth, even coat of paint, no matter what season it may be. To learn more or to schedule your initial consultation, contact us at (407) 378-6040 today.